Committee publication · Engagement document · 27 May 2026
Summary of the Committee's 'Student loans and taxation of graduates' online questionnaire results, May 2026
From: Treasury Committee
Summary
The Treasury Committee published results from an online questionnaire on student loans and taxation of graduates (12 March–14 April 2026), receiving ~52,000 responses. About 60% held only Plan 2 loans. Key findings: 82% of respondents felt financial impact was worse than expected; 93% questioned loan interest and repayment terms; 70% said repayments materially affected future financial planning; 92% would not have attended university without loans; and 51% would not take out a loan again knowing what they now know.
Key findings
- 40,373 of 49,357 loan holders (82%) reported the combined financial impact of loan repayments and taxation was worse than expected
- 45,843 respondents (93%) disagreed that interest and repayment terms were reasonable
- 34,555 respondents (70%) confirmed student loan repayments had material impact on future financial planning
- 45,066 respondents (92%) could not have attended higher education without a student loan
- 25,291 respondents (51%) would not take out a loan again; only 10,368 (21%) said they would, with 13,698 (28%) uncertain
Tone
FactualTopics
Key actors
Treasury Committee, Plan 2 loan holders, Plan 1 loan holders, Prospective students
Notable line
“… job with higher pay than you might have had otherwise? I don't know No Yes 13 Results – Would you take out a loan again knowing what you know now?”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗